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Dogue de Bordeaux

The Dogue de Bordeaux is also known as the French Mastiff. The massive head of this
breed is a very important feature when evaluating this dog. Top quality show males
have a head that measures 27-30 inches around. The skull is slightly domed and broad
between the ears. There is a deep median furrow from the stop to the occiput. The
stop is very deep and abrupt. The muzzle is broad, thick and short with moderate
folds of the skin. The jaws are powerful and the lips are thick and moderately pendulous.
When the mouth is closed, the upper lip hangs over the side of the lower jaw. The
teeth should meet in a straight line. The nose is black, brown or reddish pink depending
on the coat color and range from hazel to dark brown. The ears are pendant and moderately
small. They are set high and are level with the upper line of the skull. The muscular
neck is thick and round. The chest is deep and broad. The feet are very large, oval
and tight. Dewclaws are not removed. The tail is uncut, thick at the base and tapers
to the tip. The short coat is soft to the touch and comes in any shade of fawn.
Color on the ears is somewhat darker than the body color. Limited white patches
are permissible on the chest and feet.

Temperament

The Dogue de Bordeaux is devoted, playful and even tempered. They are very affectionate
with their family. They get along well with children but may be dog aggressive.
They are reserved around strangers but are not usually vicious. Although they are
calm and loving, they are very powerful dogs. This excellent family pet will guard
what is theirs, even their owner. Some in this breed can be a bit stubborn. They
are physically stalwart and should be handled by an experienced owner. The Dogue
should be socialized and trained from puppyhood.

Females in this breed often need a cesarean section at birth because of the size
of the puppy's heads. The female will often attempt to nurse while lying on her
stomach and may crush the pups. Breeders should watch out for the puppies but keep
in mind that the female can be very protective of their young. Other health concerns
include heart and eye problems and dysplasia of the elbow and hip.

Living Conditions

The Dogue de Bordeaux will do okay living in an apartment if they are sufficiently
exercised. They do best with a large-sized yard where they can run outdoors on a
regular basis.

Exercise

This breed requires lots of daily exercise which can include a daily walk or jog.

Life Expectancy

About 10-12 years

Grooming

Care should be taken with this breed's skin as they need regular cleaning between
the folds of their skin. The coat requires minimal brushing. Check the nails often
as they tend to develop awkwardly and cause problems.

Origin

The Dogue de Bordeaux is one of the oldest French breeds. The name originated from
southern France, in the Bordeaux region. They are believed to be descended from
a mix of the Tibetan Mastiff, Roman Mollussus and Spanish Alano. During the French
Revolution, the Dogue de Bordeaux was considered the dog of royalty. The breed narrowly
missed extinction during the two World Wars, but enjoyed resurgence in the 1960s.
The first Dogue was imported to the US during the early 1980s and there are now
approximately 3000 Bordeaux in the US. This breed of dog starred in the movie "Turner
and Hooch". The Dogue is recognized by the UKC and the FCI and has recently been given full
recognition by the AKC.